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New Orleans is south Louisiana's most famous destination, and the city does offer more than Mardi Gras debauchery. One you've strolled the city's leafy streets and toured the Cities of the Dead, drive east or west to discover some of the state's less visited but equally interesting sights.

Bayou LaFourche

Drive LA 1 along the banks of Bayou LaFourche until the waterway empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Shrimpers tie up at docks along the bayou after long days on the water. Drawbridges span the short distance across the waterway, connecting communities on each side. Watch for vernacular architecture like roadside grottoes and floating homes, and stop at restaurants and stands selling seafood caught that day. LA 1 turns west and skims just above the waters of the Gulf on the drive to Grand Isle, a low-key vacation destination where most of the homes are on stilts because hurricanes flood the island frequently.

Southwest Louisiana

Southwest Louisiana, dominated by marshy wetlands along the Gulf, is a less well-known destination in the Bayou State. Cajun and Creole culture permeate the region, which borders Texas, and industry centers around fishing and oil drilling. The Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail illustrates the character of the region. Two dozen restaurants and shops along the way sell spicy homemade sausage created from pork and rice. Lake Charles, the largest city in the area offers Las Vegas-style casino gambling and Vinton hosts Delta Downs, a thoroughbred racetrack. The Charpentier Historic District in Lake Charles covers 40 blocks of Victorian architecture built during south Louisiana's lumber boom.

Southeast Louisiana

Tourists rarely venture into southeast Louisiana, unless they're heading across I-10 from New Orleans to Mississippi along what is affectionately called the Redneck Riviera. Abita Springs, site of the Abita brewery, offers a historic district with shaded streets, art galleries and restaurants. The mystery house, also known as the USM Museum (abitamysteryhouse.com) is one of the town's must-sees. The museum features thousands of pieces of folk art including miniatures, singular machines and oddities like the "bassigator," a creature that appears to be half bass and half alligator. Angola Prison holds one of the more famous prison rodeos in the U.S. The public is welcome to watch inmates compete in barrel racing, bull riding and racing.

Cajun Country

Lafayette is the center of Cajun country. The city is home to dozens of shops, motels and a gem called Acadian Village, with buildings and exhibits illustrating 19th-century life. Avery Island, south of New Iberia, is the site of the McIlhenny Company (tabasco.com), purveyors of Tabasco sauce. The island, which sits atop a salt dome, has extensive gardens and a bird sanctuary. Drive into the countryside for a fais-dodo (a Cajun dance party) and stop at a roadside stand for gator or shrimp straight from the Gulf of Mexico. A branch of Mulate's (mulates.com) in Breaux Bridge, "Crawfish Capital of the World, " serves gumbo and etouffee.

References

"Houma Today"; Bayou LaFourche, the Longest Main Street in the World; Nikki Buskey; February 2010

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About the Author

Meg Jernigan has been writing for more than 30 years. She specializes in travel, cooking and interior decorating. Her offline credits include copy editing full-length books and creating marketing copy for nonprofit organizations. Jernigan attended George Washington University, majoring in speech and drama.